AY Honors/Canoeing/Answer Key

2. Demonstrate, first alone and then with a companion, the proper method of:

a. Entering and launching a canoe

(1) From a beach

This is much easier to do if the paddler gives up the idea of having dry feet. Wear a pair of sandals and wade right in. But it can also be managed without getting the feet wet. Slide the canoe's bow into the water and let the current (if there is one) push that end downstream. Hang onto the other end of the canoe (the stern) so that it does not get away. If two people are to enter the canoe, have the sternsman stand with one foot on either side of the stern, steadying it with the knees. Then have the bowman enter the canoe from the right, by reaching over the canoe, grasping the left gunwhale with the left hand, then setting the left foot in the center of the canoe (over the keel). Then the bowman grasps the right gunwhale with the right hand and slowly shift bodyweight to the left foot, lifting the right foot over the gunwhale. The bowman then carefully walks to the bow while holding onto the gunwhales, finally taking position either on the bow seat, or kneeling in front of it. The bowman can then place the tip of the paddle blade into the ground (under water) to steady the canoe and keep it from floating off while the sternsman enters.

The procedure for entering the canoe alone is much the same, except that the canoe will not be steadied by a companion. Concentrate on balance, and always keep your weight as centered over the keel as possible.

(2) From a landing dock or pier.

It is far more difficult to enter a canoe from a dock or pier than from a beach. This is because the canoe will not sit on the bottom of the river or lake helping to steady it as people enter. Instead, paddlers must be very careful to keep their weight centered over the keel until firmly in position. Once the first person is in the boat, that person should assume a kneeling position with the knees spread as far apart as the canoe will allow. This will allow the person to easily and quickly shift his or her weight to either the left or the right to steady the canoe as the other paddler enters. The paddler should also grip the dock or pier firmly to keep the canoe from pushing away while the partner has one foot in the boat and the other on the dock.

b. Landing and leaving a canoe

(1) On a beach

When landing on a beach, the bow usually drives into the bank first. The mistake most novices make at this point is to begin exiting the canoe while the stern is still upstream from the bow. Allow the current to push the stern past the bow so that the bow is facing upstream. This is what a river will want to do to the canoe anyhow, so it is better if you do it while you are still firmly seated. The bowman is usually the first to exit, by stepping over the gunwhale onto shore (or into the water if that's not an issue). Once the bowman's weight is out of the canoe, the bow will rise and the canoe will likely not be in contact with the river bottom anymore. The wise sternman will take a few strokes to get the bow back onto the bank, and the helpful bownman will assist by pulling the canoe gently as well. Do NOT haul the canoe out of the water with the sternman still inside. This puts excessive strain on the keel and can easily damage the canoe.

(2) On a landing dock or pier.

As with entering a canoe, exiting into a pier is far more difficult that exiting onto a beach. Position the canoe alongside the pier and hold firmly onto it. Place both hands on the pier and gently shift your weight to them, trying to not push the boat away as you do so. Lift your weight onto the pier, turn around, and sit. Then swing the legs out of the boat.

3. Accompanied by examining counselor, demonstrate correctly the following strokes:

a. Bow

The bow stroke is executed by inserting the paddle into the water well ahead of oneself with the blade perpendicular to the keel. The paddle is then pulled through the water parallel to the keel. This stroke is most often executed by the bowman, but can be used by the sternsman as well.

4. Alone and with a companion in both the bow and stern, paddle a canoe in a straight course for 100 yards (91.4 meters). Turn right about and left about. The paddle should be kept always on the same side of the canoe. Demonstrate two kneeling positions for paddling.

Paddling a straight course

The easiest way to paddle a straight course while keeping the paddle on the same side of the canoe is for the sternsman to use the J-stroke. The bowman can paddle from either side of the canoe using bow strokes. When paddling solo, it is best to sit in the bow seat with the canoe turned around so that the stern (the back of the canoe) becomes the front. By doing this, the paddler will be positioned closer to the middle of the canoe, because the bow seat is closer to the center than the stern seat. Again, the J-stroke should be used.

Turning

If paddling on the right side of the canoe, the sternsman can effect a left turn by applying simple bow strokes. The canoe will turn left. To turn right while paddling on the right side of the canoe, the sternsman applies reverse bow strokes while the bowman applies draw strokes.

Kneeling positions

Kneeling in a canoe gives it greater stability because it lowers the center of gravity. It also allows the paddler greater control over the canoe's side-to-side tilt because the weight can be quickly shifted to the left or to the right to counter tipping. When sitting, this is more difficult to do because shifting the weight from one buttock to the other does not have much effect.

The first kneeling position is to place both knees on the bottom of the canoe and rest the buttocks against the front edge of the seat. The second kneeling position is similar, except that only one knee is on the bottom - the other knee is raised and the foot is on the bottom of the boat. The paddler may still lean against the front edge of the seat.

5. Demonstrate with a canoe the rescue of a companion who has capsized his canoe offshore by:

a. Emptying the swamped canoe of water by drawing it upside down across the gunwales of the rescue canoe.

First maneuver the rescue canoe such that it is perpendicular to the swamped canoe, with either the bow or the stern of the swamped canoe near the center of the rescue canoe. One rescuer may then reach over the gunwhales, take hold of the bow or stern of the swamped canoe and lift it onto the gunwhale. The other rescuer should counterbalance the rescue canoe while this is being done to prevent the rescue canoe from swamping as well. This is done by having the rescuer shift his or her weight to the opposite side of the rescue canoe.

Once the bow or stern is resting on the gunwhales, the swimmers should help by pushing the swamped canoe up onto the rescue canoe. The rescuers will also draw it across. When the swamped canoe is centered on the gunwhales of the rescue canoe, one rescuer will flip the swamped canoe right-side-up. The other rescuer will catch it as it rolls around.

b. Launch the rescued canoe again.

The rescuers then gently shove the canoe off their gunwhales back into the water. Be careful not to hit the swimmers.

c. Steady canoe while companion climbs aboard.

The canoe is then turned parallel to the rescue canoe, and both rescuers will hold the gunwhales of the two canoes firmly together. The swimmers may then re-enter the canoe from the opposite side (it is best for them to do this one at a time).

6. Jump out of a canoe in deep water and get back in again in the proper form without shipping water. (Candidate must be accompanied by lifeguard in an equipped lifeboat.)

The least risky way to jump out of a canoe is by jumping off the deck (that is, jumping off the bow to the front of the canoe, or jumping off the stern to the rear).

The paddler should then swim to the center of the canoe and grab the gunwhales with both hands. The hands should be positioned about a shoulder-width apart. The paddler then lifts himself up, throwing the torso across the gunwhales and getting as much body weight over the keel as possible. If possible, one hand should reach across the canoe to the opposite gunwhale during this motion. With the belt-line over the near gunwhale, the paddler may then swing his legs aboard.

8. Fully satisfy the examiner of a thorough knowledge of safety rules which will make the candidate a safe canoeist and competent to take others out in a canoe. Promise to observe these rules at all times.

1. Wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) at all times.
2. Do not drink alcohol while canoeing
3. Paddle directly into or away from the wake made by power boats (broadside waves can easily capsize a canoe).
4. If you capsize in still water, stay with the canoe.
5. If you capsize in swift current, try to get upstream relative to the canoe so that it will not pin you on a rock. A canoe full of water easily weighs 1200 kg, and if it pins you against a rock, you are not going to lift a 1200 kg canoe off yourself. The only other available option is to drown, and that is not a very attractive option at all.
6. If you find yourself swimming in a rapid, roll onto your back and float with your feet going downstream first and your toes out of the water. This will prevent your foot from catching a rock and it getting trapped. Many people have drowned as a result of foot-entrapment.
7. Kneel in the bottom of the canoe in rough water. This increases the boat's stability by lowering its center of gravity, and it gives you better control of the canoe.
8. Do not paddle in water that presents a greater challenge than your abilities. Do not be too embarrassed to admit that a rapid is too difficult for you. You won't be able to admit it if you drown.
9. Do not paddle farther from shore than you can swim.
10. Load the canoe properly so that it is balances from bow to stern and from side to side.
11. Stay away from low-head dams. They may look innocuous, but the are very dangerous. Do not approach them from upstream or from downstream.
12. Never paddle alone.
13. Do not paddle into tree branches, especially if they are underwater. Water will pass right through, but you will not. Instead, the water will press you into the branches and they will hold you under water. Moving water is very powerful. You are puny in comparison. Water moving through a hydro-electric dam can generate enough electricity to power a city (including subway trains). If water is powerful enough to move a train, it is powerful enough to hold you under water pinned to a tree branch.
14. Do not stand in a canoe until you have sufficient skill and experience to do so. Many people would argue that you should never stand in a canoe, but if you have sufficient skill, standing will allow a better view of the river ahead. This can be crucial above a rapid. That said, most people do not have sufficient skill. As the instructor of this honor, it's up to you to decide how to teach this "rule."
15. Don't be an idiot. If something looks dangerous, it probably is.

9. Explain how to do the following emergency repair work:

For both of these situations, duct tape is the paddler's best friend.

a. Repairing a one-inch hole in fiberglass, canvas, and aluminum canoe.

Land the canoe on a beach, get it in the sun, flip it upside down. Dry the affected area as best you can with whatever you have. Let the sun do the rest. Apply a strip of duct tape to the outside of the hull, covering the hole completely. Then turn the boat rightside up again, dry the inside of the hull around the hole, and cover it with duct tape as well.

b. Repairing a broken paddle shaft.

Find a straight tree branch about 2.5 cm in diameter and 60 cm long. Join the two halves of the paddle together as best you can, then position the tree branch along side it. Wrap the paddle shaft and the branch with several turns of duct tape, both above and below the break. Paddle gently.